The Kennedy family has been at the forefront of American history for generations, leaving behind a legacy of leadership, vision, and eloquence. Their words continue to inspire, challenge, and motivate people worldwide. From the presidency of John F. Kennedy to the political careers of Robert and Edward Kennedy, their speeches and remarks have captured the essence of courage, duty, and hope.
46 Memorable Quotes from the Kennedys
1. “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.”
2. “Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.”
3. “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.”
4. “To those whom much is given, much is expected.”
5. “The rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened.”
6. “If we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity.”
7. “Victory has a thousand fathers, but defeat is an orphan.”
8. “The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie—deliberate, contrived, and dishonest—but the myth, persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic.”
On Courage and Determination
9. “Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.”
10. “Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men.”
11. “There are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long-range risks of comfortable inaction.”
12. “Some men see things as they are and say why. I dream things that never were and say why not.”
13. “One person can make a difference, and everyone should try.”
14. “Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence.”
15. “The future does not belong to those who are content with today.”
16. “A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on.”
On America and Democracy
17. “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and the success of liberty.”
18. “The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.”
19. “Liberty without learning is always in peril, and learning without liberty is always in vain.”
20. “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.”
21. “Democracy is never a final achievement. It is a call to an untiring effort.”
22. “The cost of freedom is always high, but Americans have always paid it.”
23. “A child miseducated is a child lost.”
24. “A revolution is coming—a revolution which will be peaceful if we are wise enough; compassionate if we care enough; successful if we are fortunate enough.”
On Service and Responsibility
25. “Our privileges can be no greater than our obligations.”
26. “To each, there comes in their lifetime a special moment when they are figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a special thing, unique to them and their talents. What a tragedy if that moment finds them unprepared or unqualified for that which could have been their finest hour.”
27. “The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.”
28. “It is not wealth that builds a great civilization, but wisdom, foresight, and virtue.”
29. “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”
30. “Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer.”
31. “Happiness is the full use of your powers along lines of excellence.”
32. “An individual who is not concerned with the greater good is like a wave that thinks it is separate from the ocean.”
On Peace and Justice
33. “Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures.”
34. “War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige that the warrior does today.”
35. “The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life.”
36. “If freedom is to survive and prosper, it will require the sacrifice, the effort, and the thoughtful attention of every citizen.”
37. “Each time a man stands up for an ideal or acts to improve the lot of others, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope.”
38. “Every society gets the kind of criminal it deserves. What is equally true is that every community gets the kind of law enforcement it insists on.”
39. “Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one’s own beliefs. Rather, it condemns the oppression or persecution of others.”
40. “Justice delayed is democracy denied.”
On the Future and Hope
41. “Children are the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for the future.”
42. “There is a new world beyond the storm, and soon we shall see its dawning.”
43. “Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.”
44. “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”
45. “Hope is not a strategy, but it is a necessary foundation for one.”
46. “We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.”
Conclusion
The words of the Kennedys continue to echo through history, inspiring generations to pursue justice, service, and leadership with courage and integrity. Their speeches, filled with wisdom and conviction, remind us of the responsibility we have to our fellow citizens and the world at large. As we reflect on their legacy, we find motivation to contribute to society, stand up for what is right, and build a better future for all. The Kennedy family’s impact remains undeniable, and their powerful words serve as a guiding light for those who seek to make a difference.
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